The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) has voiced concerns over new guidelines in granting media visas (M-visas) to foreign journalists, saying it could hamper freedom of reporting.
In a statement dated Thursday, the FCCT urged authorities to interpret the guidelines in a way that enables bona fide journalists to be properly accredited and perform their jobs freely and fairly.
"Some long-standing foreign journalists, particularly photographers, have been rejected after many years of reporting from Thailand, and this is deeply discouraging," the statement said.
Earlier, some FCCT members were invited to share ideas with Foreign Ministry officials. Some of their proposals were accepted. "These included reasonable grace periods for those who are now expected to make drastic alternative arrangements to their working lives," the statement said.
Responding to the FCCT's concerns, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee insisted the new guidelines did not aim to impede foreign media freedom. He said a rapid expansion of new media has led to a rise in M-visa applicants, and it could create the scope for people posing as journalists to obtain the visas. "Full-time journalists based in Bangkok, reporting on Thailand and staying here for over three months need not worry," he said, adding those affected will be bloggers.
As of January 2016, more than 500 foreign journalists had applied for media visas. About 5% would not be eligible.